Cork and Kerry draw thrilling Munster SFC final

Fionn Fitzgerald hit an injury-time point to earn Kerry a 2-15 to 3-12 draw in a thrilling Munster SFC final in Killarney.

Fitzgerald's ambitious strike from distance broke Cork hearts after Brian Cuthbert's side produced an incredible performance that yielded three goals and two resurrections. 

Written-off before the throw-in and credited with not having the resolve of their opponents, Cork stormed into the contest. 

Playing with two sweepers, Kerry's attack looked second-best to a committed defence and Colm O'Neill's palmed goal after nine minutes was just rewards for their efforts. 

But Kerry responded through Kieran Donaghy, who slammed home a giveaway goal minutes later when Michael Shields was caught napping by Johnny Buckley in front of his own goal.

With James O'Donoghue's lines of running threatening Cork's defence, Johnny Buckley and Barry John Keane played their way into the contest kicking scores that stretched Kerry's lead to 1-9 against Cork's 1-5 at the interval.

Crucially, Cork lost Paul Kerrigan to a black card - an effective sweeper through this purple patch - and the feeling was that the visitor's best efforts had come and gone.

But return they did after the interval through Donncha O'Connor flicking the ball over the on-rushing Kealy to re-balance the contest.

Cork were in the ascendancy but when James O'Donoghue was awarded a fortuitious penalty - which he converted on 52 minutes - their chance appeared lost again.

Momentum continued to swing however, and Barry O'Driscoll struck a brilliant goal with seven minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish.

And it was Fitzgerald who dropped the curtain on a compelling contest with an outrageous point from distance to send the contest to a replay - which will again be held in Killarney on July 18 - on a day when Cork earned everything but the victory they'll feel their performance deserved.

Kerry: B Kealy; F Fitzgerald (0-1), M Ó Sé, S Enright; J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young; D Moran, B Sheehan (0-4, 3f); S O’Brien, J Buckley (0-1), D Walsh (0-1); BJ Keane (0-3, 1f), K Donaghy (1-0), J O’Donoghue (1-2, 1-0 pen).

Subs: A Maher (0-1) for Moran (43), C Cooper (0-1) for O’Brien (43), D O’Sullivan for Buckley (47), P Geaney (0-1) for Keane (51), J Sherwood for Sheahan (61), P Murphy for Crowley (65).

Cork: K O’Halloran; M Shields, E Cadogan, J Loughrey; Barry O’Driscoll (1-1), Brian O’Driscoll, S Cronin; A O’Connor, F Goold; P Kerrigan, D O’Connor (1-3, 2f), K O’Driscoll (0-2); C O’Neill (1-6, 3f,1 ’45), M Collins, B Hurley.

Subs: P Kelly for Kerrigan (25, black card), C Dorman for Cronin (59), R Deane for Goold (61), D Goulding for D O’Connor (62), C O’Driscoll for Hurley (67).

Ref: P Hughes (Armagh).